Primary Stages Opens OLIVE AND THE BITTER HERBS Tonight

Primary Stages launches its 27th season tonight, August 16, with the World Premiere of a work commissioned by the company, the new comedy, Olive and the Bitter Herbs by Charles Busch directed by Mark Brokaw.The five-me mber cast features Dan Butler as Trey, David Garrison as Robert, Julie Halston as Wendy, Marcia Jean Kurtz as Olive and Richard Masur as Sylvan. Performances run through Saturday, September 3, 2011 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). 

In Olive and the Bitter Herbs, the latest comedy from Tony-nominated playwright Charles Busch (The Divine Sister, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife), actress Olive Fisher sees a ghost in her mirror, but that's the least of her problems. Her radiator's broken, the couple next door stink up her apartment with exotic cheeses, and the highlight of her long career was a sausage commercial in the '80s. While she's not the most popular tenant, her neighbors invite themselves over and she finds herself hosting a Passover Seder. But are Olive's guests there to see her or the mysterious man in her mirror? Olive and the Bitter Herbs is a comedy about connecting to the people in our lives - those with us and those who have passed on.

The creative team includes Anna Louizos (Set), Suzy Benzinger (Costumes), Mary Louise Geiger (Lights) and John Gromada (Sound and Original Music). The Production Stage Manager is William H. Lang.

Olive and the Bitter Herbs will play the following performance schedule: Tuesdays Wednesday, and new this season, Thursdays at 7:00 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m. on July 31, August 7, 14 & 21, and special Wednesday matinees at 2:00 p.m. on August 24 & 31. Following the public performances on August 18 & 25, there will be a special "Artist/Audience Talkback" for the attendees of those performances.

Single tickets for Olive and the Bitter Herbs are priced at $45 for the first two weeks (July 26 - August 7) and $65 for all remaining performances (August 9 - September 3). Tickets may be purchased by calling Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 , online at www.primarystages.org, or in person at the 59E59 Theaters Box Office. Group Tickets (10+) are $35 each for the first two weeks (July 26 - August 7) and $45 each for all remaining performances (August 9 - September 3), and are available by calling (212) 840-9705 , ext. 204. Please visit the website at www.primarystages.org, or call (212) 840-9705 for additional information.

The special Pay What You Can ticket offer (now in its fourth season at Primary Stages) will be available for the first two preview performances on July 26 & 27 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets go on sale two hours prior to curtain at a minimum of $1 per ticket and are limited to two (2) tickets per person, cash only, no change given, must provide email and mailing addresses and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, only at the 59E59 Theater Box Office.

For theater patrons 35 and under, Primary Stages offers specially priced $20 tickets (maximum two tickets per valid ID). Advance tickets are available through Ticket Central using code PS35. Failure to present a valid ID will result in an additional fee. All tickets are subject to availability.

The 2011/2012 season at Primary Stages will continue with the New York Premiere of the new play, Motherhood Out Loud, written by Leslie Ayvazian, David Cale, Jessica Goldberg, Beth Henley, Lameece Issaq, Claire LaZebnik, Lisa Loomer, Michele Lowe, Marco Pennette, Theresa Rebeck, LuAnne Rice, Annie Weisman and Cheryl L. West, co-conceived by Susan R. Rose and Joan Stein, under the direction of Lisa Peterson (September 20, 2011 - October 29, 2011), followed by the World Premiere of the new comedy, Rx, by Kate Fodor directed by Ethan McSweeny (January 24, 2012 - March 3, 2012). The season concludes with the New York Premiere of the new play, The Morini Strad, by Willy Holtzman directed by Primary Stages Founder Casey Childs (March 20, 2012 - April 28, 2012).

Discounted 4-play subscription packages for previews and regular performances priced from $132-$172 are now available by calling Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or online at www.primarystages.org. For additional information about Primary Stages, please visit the website at www.primarystages.org.